Broadcom Corporation which claims to be the leading provider of integrated circuits enabling broadband communications has announced production shipments of the Broadcom BCM3416, a new advanced digital tuner for digital voice, video and data communications. This product is the fifth product in the Broadcom silicon tuner family that includes digital and satellite tuners and amplifiers.

A US federal judge ruled last week that Broadcom's BCM3416 tuner technology was not subject to an injunction that was issued against Broadcom's older tuner technology. The judge determined that due to the substantial technical changes to the BCM3416, the injunction does not apply to that product, clearing Broadcom to continue volume shipments to customers.

An official release informs that the performance of the BCM3416 matches or exceeds that of prior generations of Broadcom tuner products and has been adopted by six of the top 10 manufacturers of DOCSIS cable modems. The BCM3416 has been used in cable modems that have successfully received DOCSIS 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 certifications issued by CableLabs. Customers have begun building modems with the BCM3416 and in some cases are already shipping products to cable operators.

This represents a major step forward for suppliers of both cable modems and digital set-top boxes. The release adds that the most exciting aspect of this product is its incorporation of the newest technology demanded by the rapidly-changing digital communications marketplace. The BCM3416 leverages Broadcom's tuner experience to allow cable modem and set-top box manufacturers to use newer, cheaper RF components in overall tuner design.